Solving the Global Problem of Aging Infrastructure with Structural Health Monitoring
Xerox and the Victorian Government are partnering to launch Eloque, a joint venture to commercialize new technology that will remotely monitor the structural health of bridges.
The Eloque solution is an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology, using tiny fiber optic sensors attached to the bridge to accurately measure and estimate structural strain, thermal response, bending, loads, vibration, and corrosion, which are all measures of structural health. Advanced analytics are then used to evaluate the sensors’ data and deliver insights directly to the bridge owners and operators in real time, to monitor whether a bridge is being over or underutilized, has structural problems or damage that needs repair.
The technology was developed at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and trialed through a partnership between Xerox and VicTrack, the Victorian Government state-owned enterprise that owns all railway and tram lines in the state. PARC’s solution uses sensors and advanced analytics to monitor structural health in bridges to optimize asset life.
This technology enables early detection and prediction of problems, allowing issues to be found before they potentially become more costly to repair and helps customers efficiently manage maintenance budgets.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, in the United States alone, 42 percent of all bridges are at least 50 years old, and nearly 231,000 bridges need repair and preservation work. This problem extends across the globe. An estimated 70 percent of Australia’s bridges are more than 50 years old, around 11,000 of Germany's 25,000 rail bridges are over 100 years old, and seven percent of bridges in France are already at risk of collapse.
The technology was developed at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and trialed through a partnership between Xerox and VicTrack, the Victorian Government state-owned enterprise that owns all railway and tram lines in the state. PARC’s solution uses sensors and advanced analytics to monitor structural health in bridges to optimize asset life.
Xerox Innovation
See how some of the brightest minds on the planet gather at our worldwide research centers to improve the future of work.
Contact Us
How Eloque and Xerox Are Changing The Way Bridges Are Managed
Xerox and the Victorian Government have launched Eloque to leverage first-of-their-kind Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in bridges to monitor vibration, strain, corrosion and bending.
Related Articles
Metal 3D Printer Selection Begins with the End in Mind
The choice of 3D printing technology, whether using plastics, composites, or metals, begins with the end in mind.
Xerox ElemX 3D Printer Resources
Find resources for the Xerox ElemX 3D Printer including product specifications and an overview of the printed part design capabilities.
Agents of Change
Santokh Badesha: Pushing the Limits of Innovation
Smart Manufacturing: Orchestrating Your Response To Changing Conditions
Today more than ever, manufacturers must produce short-run and custom goods, on-demand, and in uncertain conditions.
The Perfect Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Platform
In recent years, we’ve seen an evolution of IIoT capabilities, with advances in data science and more accurate and cost-effective sensors leading to broader adoption of IIoT solutions.
PARC Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation
And prepares for the next 50 years.
